The Farm Doctor land restitution controversy continues to rumble on. The Special Investigations Unit is conducting a probe into possible corruption involving pay-outs made and the list of claimants drawn up during the second phase of the restitution claim.
The area, opposite Talana Museum, was the scene of a forced removal in the 1960s. Families were moved to present-day Sibongile in terms of the then Group Areas Act. But it appears that 50 years on, families are still struggling to find justice in this new democratic country.

Mzwakhe Sithebe, of the Farm Doctors Representative Forum, says Land Affairs officials continue to not be transparent, and have not – despite repeated requests and meetings – fully disclosed the list of claimants.

“People have been put on the list that should not have been. Members of the same family appear more than once. Genuine claimants have been ignored, but we can’t get to the bottom of it as we do not have access to the list,” he said.

In the first phase, R43 000 per family was paid out to claimants. Mr Sithebe said there are still another 1 000 or so families due to be paid out in phase two. “It would be relatively easy to uncover fraudulent claims: if they cannot provide their Farm Doctor address, that means they were never there.”

He said the forum has solidarity with a forum from Mtubatuba where there have been similar land restitution problems. “We have forged an alliance to enhance our struggle against any lack of transparency and lack of accountability by departmental officials. We need the list of claimants to be published for all to see. We will not rest until justice has been served.”